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PREPARATION 

-  -  FOR  »  * 


I  Field  Service. 


I  BY  JOHN  BORDMAN,  JR. 

,  | 

Capt.  Mass.  Heavy  Artillery. 

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\  I  PRICE  TWENTY=FIVE  CENTS. 


-  ^ 


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# 


learning  anb  Tabor. 

LIBRARY 


University  of  Illinois. 


CLASS 


BOOK. 


VOLUME. 


'&v~ 


? 


a.'TA . 


Accession  No. 


PREPARATION 


FOR 


- BY - 

JOHN  BORDMAN,  JR., 


Capt.  Battery  A,  1st  Regt.  Heavy  Artillery,  M.  V.  M. 


COMPILER  OF 

Drill  Manual”  for  Non-Commissioned  Officers:  “Guard  Manual” 
for  Non-Commissioned  Officers  and  Privates  ;  “  Submarine 
Mines,  their  Attack  and  Defense.” 


BOSTON,  MASS 

1898. 


ENTERED  ACCORDING  TO  ACT  OF  CONGRESS  IN  THE  OFFICE  OF  THE 
LIBRARIAN  OF  CONGRESS  AT  WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 

BY  JOHN  BORDMAN,  JR. 


1898. 


McClurg. 


CONTENTS. 


Page 


I.  Military  Hygiene . 5 

II.  Marches .  9 

II.  Camps  and  Bivouacs  ....  10 

V.  Rations  and  Cooking  ....  14 


• j  V.  Hasty  Intrenchment . 18 

O 

—.VI.  First  Aid  to  Injured  .....  22 


Drill  Manual  for  Non-Commissioned  Officers — 30  Cal. 
Manual  adapted  to  45  t_al.  A  complete  instructor  for 
Non-Commissioned  Officers.  Used  in  Non-Commissioned 
Officers’  Schools,  Examinations  for  Warrants,  Preparation 
for  Inspections,  etc.  Single  copies,  27  cents;  per  dozen, 
$2.92 ;  25  or  more,  20  cents  each,  f.  o.  b. 

Manual  of  Arms — 30  Cal.  Manual  adapted  to  45  Cal. 
as  authorized  by  War  Department,  for  use  in  Volunteer 
Companies,  Schools,  Colleges,  Boys’  Brigades,  etc.  Single 
copies,  16  cents;  per  dozen,  $  1.25. 

Guard  Manual  for  Non-Commissioned  Officers  and 
Privates.  A  complete  Manual  of  Guard  Duty,  including 
also  Outposts  and  Reconnoitring  Patrols.  Single  copies, 
21  cents;  per  dozen,  $2.10;  25  or  more,  18  cents  each,  f.o.b. 

Submarine  Hines — Their  Attack  and  Defense,  in¬ 
cluding  Boat  Patrols.  A  Manual  for  Heavy  Artillery 
and  Harbor  Defense.  Single  copies,  16  cents  ;  per  dozen, 
1 . 58 ;  20  or  more,  ro  cents  each. 

Insignia  of  Rank — Plates  illustrating  Shoulder  Knots, 
Straps  and  Overcoat  Sleeve — 4  pp. — much  used  for  dis¬ 
tribution  among  Recruits.  1  cent  each;  25  copies,  r5 
cents;  50  copies,  25  cents ;  roo  copies  40  cents. 

Price  must  invariably  accompany  the  order.  No  books 
will  be  sent  C.  O.  D. 

Address  and  make  Money  Orders  payable  at  Concord 
Junction,  Mass. 

JOHN  BORDMAN,  JR. 

Capt.  Batty  “ A  ”  1st  H.  Art.,  M.  V.  M. 


FPtE^A.RA.TXOISr 


FOR 


MILITARY  HYGIENE. 

i.  UNDERCLOTHING.  The  first  thing  to  con¬ 
sider  in  preparation  for  service  is  naturally  what  to 
wear  and  how  to  wear  or  carry  it.  One  thing  can  be 
laid  down  as  a  maxim — wear  flannel  next  to  the  skin. 
Perspiration  attaching  itself  to  linen  is  a  producer  of 
fevers,  and  when  wet  with  sweat  linen  affords  no  pro¬ 
tection  to  the  body  at  all.  The  soldier  wears  no 
drawers,  but  they  are  really  just  as  important  as  a  shirt 
for  the  upper  part  of  the  body.  With  drawers  folding 
well  over  the  abdomen  form,  and  a  long  shirt,  a  double 
fold  of  flannel  over  that  important  part  is  secured,  and 
the  necessity  of  a  flannel  belt  or  abdominal  band  is 
avoided.  This  belt  of  flannel  should,  however,  be 
generally  worn  about  the  abdomen,  as  it  will  be  much 
protection  against  those  stomach  diseases  which  are 
the  scourge  of  armies  in  the  field. 

The  socks  should  be  of  worsted  and  be  kept  clean, 
and  must  perfectly  fit  the  foot.  This  is  one  of  the 
most  important  parts  of  the  soldier’s  dress,  as  any 
shortcoming  here  will  destroy  his  usefulness  as  a 


6 


PREPARATION  FOR  SERVICE. 


soldier  and  cause  him  endless  suffering.  The  Germans 
fold  pieces  of 'calico,  previously  smeared  with  lard, 
across  the  foot,  but  this  is  no  better  than  a  good 
sock  kept  clean.  The  shoes  should  be  laced,  strong 
and  square-toed,  and  while  giving  the  foot  plenty  of 
room  should  not  be  large  enough  to  cause  the  foot  to 
move  about  and  chafe.  Every  man  should  be  able  to 
make  substantial  repairs  to  these  important  articles. 

2.  THE  SOLDIER’S  KIT.  Beside  what  articles 
the  soldier  wears  his  kit  should  contain :  two  flannel 
shirts,  one  pair  trousers,  one  pair  shoes,  three  pairs 
worsted  socks,  two  towels,  one  pair  suspenders,  hair 
comb,  fine  tooth  comb,  knife,  fork,  spoon,  mess-tin  and 
cover,  piece  soap,  sponge,  razor  and  case,  shaving 
brush,  clothes  brush,  box  of  blacking  and  blacking 
brush,  housewife  (containing  thread,  needles,  wax, 
waxed  ends,  buttons,  etc.),  extra  shoe  laces,  and  a  pipe 
and  tobacco. 

An  officer’s  equipment  and  valise  should  contain  the 
following  articles : 

Carried  or  Worn  on  Person ,  Woollen  socks,  drawers, 
flannel  shirt,  silk  pocket  handkerchief,  clasp-knife, 
drinking  cup  and  water-bottle,  pocket-book,  field-glass 
with  compass,  watch,  haversack  and  mess-kit,  and  a 
map  of  the  country. 

Carried  in  Valise,  Great-coat,  blanket,  pair  trousers, 
pair  boots,  six  extra  boot  laces,  two  pairs  woollen 
socks,  pair  drawers,  flannel  shirt,  silk  handkerchief, 
woollen  night-cap,  two  towels,  traveling  case  (contain¬ 
ing  comb,  hair  brush,  tooth  brush,  scissors,  soap  box 


PREPARATION  FOR  SERVICE. 


7 


and  clothes  brush),  housewife,  portfolio  (containing 
pen,  ink  and  paper),  journal  book,  woollen  abdominal 
band,  cotton  bandage,  candle  lamp  with  a  few  candles, 
tin  match-box  with  sulphur  matches,  a  rubber  basin, 
salt  and  pepper  boxes. 

3.  THE  HEALTH.  The  preservation  of  the 
health  is  the  soldier’s  first  consideration.  Everything 
depends  on  cleanliness,  and  its  want  is  a  primary 
source  of  disease  in  war.  Very  soon  the  person  and 
clothes  get  covered  with  lice;  all  garments,  outer  as 
well  as  inner,  get  impregnated  with  sweat  and  become 
filthy.  These  things  cannot  be  helped,  but  their  evils 
can  be  lessened.  The  hair  should  be  cut  short.  In 
the  absence  of  water  for  washing,  the  best  plan  is  the 
small  tooth  comb,  to  keep  the  hair  free  from  vermin. 

Clothes  can  be  partially  cleaned  by  drying  and  beat¬ 
ing.  Washing  should  be  done  as  frequently  as  pos¬ 
sible.  Shirts  may  be  cleaned  in  this  way :  The  soldier 
should  wear  one  and  carry  one  ;  every  night  he  should 
change,  hang  up  the  one  he  takes  off  to  dry,  and  in  the 
morning  beat  it  out  and  shake  it  thoroughly.  In  this 
way  much  dirt  is  got  rid  of.  He  should  then  carry  this 
shirt  in  his  pack  during  the  day  and  substitute  it  for 
the  other  at  night. 

4.  BATHING.  If  the  camp  is  stationary  for  even 
a  week  endeavors  should  be  made  to  provide  a  washing 
place  for  the  men,  and  they  should  be  encouraged  to 
wash  all  over  in  cold  water.  This  is  not  onlv  bracing 
and  invigorating,  but  it  strengthens  the  body  against 
vicissitudes  of  weather  and  against  dysentery.  It  is 


8 


PREPARATION  FOR  SERVICE. 


of  the  utmost  consequence  that  the  feet  should  be 
washed  frequently.  Bathing  should,  however,  be 
avoided  soon  after  meals  or  when  a  man  is  very 
fatigued  or  in  a  profuse  perspiration. 

5.  YELLOW  FEVER.  I  will  end  this  section 
with  a  few  words  in  regard  to  that  scourge  of  warm 
climates — yellow  fever.  Yellow  fever  is  entirely  dis¬ 
tinct  from  malaria.  In  the  United  States  it  has  never 
been  found  above  700  feet  in  altitude ;  in  Cuba,  with 
rare  exceptions,  the  same  ;  in  Jamaica  it  has  been  found 
as  high  as  4200  feet.  It  frequently  occurs  in  non- 
malarious  places.  It  is  connected  with  putrefying 
animal  matter.  The  agent  or  poison  which  causes  the 
fever  is  portable,  can  be  carried  and  introduced  among 
a  community  and  is  increased  in  the  bodies  of  those 
whom  it  attacks.  Heat  and  excessive  humidity  are 
two  chief  factors  in  the  production  of  an  epidemic.  Its 
cause  is  evidently  connected  with  the  accumulation  of 
excreta  round  habitations,  and  overcrowding.  Every 
precaution  should  be  taken  that  the  evacuations  of 
men  are  carefully  covered  up. 

6.  PREVENTIVES.  Excretions  and  vomit  of  sick 
men  should  be  burned  ;  good  ventilation  secured  ;  when 
recently  arrived  in  hot  climate  avoid  fatigue,  especially 
when  combined  with  exposure  to  sun  ;  avoid  drinking 
and  any  improper  food  of  any  kind  which  lowers  the 
tone  of  the  body.  Quinine  is  quite  useless.  Little 
can  be  done  to  avert  internal  causes,  except  care  in  not 
undergoing  great  fatigue,  temperance,  and  proper  food. 


PREPARATION  FOR  SERVICE. 


9 


MARCHES. 

The  greater  portion  of  the  ordinary  soldier’s  service 
during  a  campaign  is  spent  in  marching.  Six  hours 
are  usually  spent  on  the  march  to  get  into  a  position 
to  fight  fifteen  minutes.  Thus  it  is  that  most  of  the 
soldier’s  discomfort  comes  from  the  march,  and  every 
effort  should  be  made  to  prepare  for  the  fatigue  and 
reduce  its  discomfort.  Among  the  conditions  adding 
to  the  fatigue  are  heat,  thirst,  constant  halts  from 
obstructions,  want  of  food,  bad  weather — especially 
head  winds  with  rain. 

1.  HEAT.  For  heat,  green  leaves  or  a  wet  cloth 
carried  in  the  cap  is  a  relieving  measure. 

2.  THIRST.  Thirst  may  be  retarded  by  carrying 
a  small  pebble  in  the  mouth.  Soldiers  should  also  be 
taught  to  refill  the  canteens  with  good  water  whenever 
practicable.  If  water  is  decidedly  bad  it  should  be 
boiled  with  tea  and  the  cold  tea  drunk.  Exhausted  tea 
leaves,  if ’well  boiled  in  water,  will  give  up  a  little 
more  tannin  and  coloring  matter  and  will  have  a  good 
effect.  If  a  soldier  would  do  this  after  his  evening 
meal,  the  water  would  be  ready  for  the  next  day’s 
march.  Soldiers  should  be  especially  taught  that  there 
is  danger  in  drinking  turbid  or  muddy  water,  which 
they  will  often  do  when  overcome  with  thirst,  as  all 
sorts  of  suspended  matters  may  be  gulped  down,  even 
animals  and  small  leeches.  Alum  will  carry  suspended 
matter  in  water  to  the  bottom. 


IO 


PREPARATION  FOR  SERVICE. 


3.  EXHAUSTION.  When  a  man  falls  out  on  the 
march  he  will  be  found  partially  fainting,  with  cold, 
moist  extremities,  a  profuse  sweat  everywhere,  the 
pulse  is  very  quick  and  weak — often  irregular — the 
respiration  often  sighing. 

4.  TREATMENT.  The  weights  should  be  re¬ 
moved,  clothes  loosened,  the  man  laid  on  the  ground, 
cold  water  dashed  on  face  and  water  given  to  drink  in 
small  quantities,  if  the  syncope  or  collapse  is  very 
alarming  brandy  must  be  used  as  the  only  way  of 
keeping  the  heart  acting,  but  a  large  quantity  is 
dangerous. 

CAMPS  AND  BIVOUACS. 

1.  SELECTION  OF  SITE.  The  selection  of  a 
camping  ground  is  a  matter  of  great  importance  as  it 
has  a  direct  influence  on  the  health  of  the  entire  com¬ 
mand.  The  primary  essentials  of  a  good  site  are,  of 
course,  a  well-drained  and  sheltered  position,  easy  of 
access,  with  good  supplies  of  fuel  and  water.  But 
these  are  not  all.  There  are  other  important  features 
which  must  be  avoided.  A  camp  must  never  be  made 
in  a  graveyard,  but  must  be  placed  as  far  to  windward 
of  it  as  possible.  Never  camp  on  ground  that  has  been 
camped  on  before — get  to  windward  of  it.  Avoid 
newly  ploughed  ground.  Avoid  rivers  with  marshy 
banks  and  marshes  of  every  description.  If  the  camp 
must  be  near  these,  place  it  so  as  to  have  a  hill  or  some 
rising  ground  or  woods  between  the  camp  and  them. 


PREPARATION  FOR  SERVICE. 


II 


2.  WATER  SUPPLY.  The  first  thing  to  be  done 
on  arriving  at  the  position  of  the  camp  is  to  protect  the 
water  supply.  If  this  be  a  stream,  the  greatest  care 
must  be  taken  to  prevent  the  men  from  washing  clothes 
or  bathing  in  it  above  the  point  where  the  drinking 
water  is  to  be  drawn.  Water  guards  must  be  posted 
in  any  event  at  once  upon  halting.  Two  points  should 
be  immediately  marked  off ;  above  the  first,  water  for 
drinking  and  cooking  is  to  be  drawn  ;  between  the  two, 
horses  and  cattle  are  to  be  watered  ;  below  the  second, 
all  washing  and  bathing  is  to  be  carried  on.  In  the 
case  of  a  stream,  to  prevent  the  water  from  becoming 
turbid,  it  will  usually  be  necessary  to  project  a  pier 
into  the  current  to  obtain  sufficient  depth  of  water. 
The  same  object  may  be  secured  by  arranging  a  float. 

In  case  the  supply  is  from  springs  or  driven  wells,  no 
water  should  be  wasted,  and  the  supply  should  be  accu¬ 
mulated  and  made  more  accessible  by  a  series  of  casks 
with  connecting  troughs.  The  probable  location  of 
water  near  the  surface,  in  case  of  no  visible  supply, 
may  be  determined  by  watching  for  the  early  morning 
mists  and  observing  the  brighter  green  of  the  vegeta¬ 
tion.  Wells  driven  in  hopes  of  water  should  be  at  the 
outlet  of  long  valleys,  or  best  of  all  at  the  junction  of 
two  long  valleys. 

3.  TENTS.  The  moment  the  tents  are  up,  drain¬ 
age  trenches,  the  width  of  the  spade  and  four  inches 
deep,  should  be  dug  around  the  outside  of  each  and 
connected  with  others  leading  away  from  the  line. 
Never  dig  out  a  tent  floor,  but  in  every  case  where  it  is 


12 


PREPARATION  FOR  SERVICE. 


at  all  possible  elevate  it  above  the  ground  and  provide 
for  ventilation  beneath.  Tents  should  be  struck  at 
intervals  of  one  week,  and  the  ground  beneath  cleaned 
of  any  accumulation  of  dirt. 

4.  BIVOUACS.  The  same  precautions  should  be 
taken  in  the  selection  of  a  site  for  the  bivouac  as  the 
camp,  but  here  the  supply  of  fuel  is  more  important  as 
large  fires  to  sleep  near  add  much  to  comfort.  Dry  and 
sheltered  positions  should  be  selected.  In  tropical 
climates  it  is  more  pleasant  at  night  to  bivouac  in  the 
open.  The  bivouac  is  the  soldier’s  standard  lodging 
and  is  not,  on  the  whole,  a  hardship. 

Infantry,  having  wheeled  into  line  and  stacked  arms, 
should  sleep  as  they  stand  in  ranks,  officers  sleeping 
on  the  inner  flank.  When  in  the  immediate  presence 
of  the  enemy,  and  a  night  attack  is  possible,  or  when 
it  is  necessary  to  begin  your  attack  very  early  next 
morning,  the  men  must  remain  accoutred. 

5.  PREPARATION  OF  GROUND.  In  preparing 
the  ground,  each  man  should  scrape  out  a  hollow  for 
the  hips.  If  time  permits,  shelter  of  some  sort  must  be 
made,  and  any  trouble  bestowed  now  will  prevent  much 
discomfort  during  the  early  morning.  Company  offi¬ 
cers  especially  should  be  energetic  in  seeing  that  the 
sleeping  place  is  made  comfortable.  Dry  grass,  shav¬ 
ings,  young  boughs,  etc.,  may  usually  be  collected  and 
often  will  prevent  one  awakening  some  two  hours 
before  daybreak  so  chilled  with  the  cold  that  he  cannot 
get  to  sleep  again.  When  time  permits  always  raise 
the  bed  off  the  ground  at  one  or  both  ends. 


PREPARATION  FOR  SERVICE. 


13 


6.  SHELTER.  A  few  logs  of  wood,  sods  or  stones 
piled-  up  to  windward  afford  good  protection  and  add 
greatly  to  comfort.  Circles  about  eighteen  feet  in 
diameter  made  with  a  bank  three  feet  high  about  them 
form  a  comfortable  bivouac.  The  earth,  sods,  etc.,  for 
the  bank  must  always  be  taken  from  without  the  circle, 
never  disturbing  the  soil  within.  The  opening  should 
be  on  the  leeward  side,  and  a  fire  built  in  the  middle 
adds  much  to  comfort.  The  men  sleep  here  with  their 
feet  toward  the  center.  Men  sleeping  together  should 
always  club  their  blankets  so  as  to  have  one  to  sleep 
on,  the  other  being  over  them.  If  there  is  time  and 
material,  shelter  should  be  made  by  driving  forked 
stakes  in  the  ground,  resting  a  pole  upon  them  and 
then  laying  on  branches  to  windward,  thicker  ends 
upward,  tops  of  the  branches  upon  the  ground.  Brush 
mats  may  be  quickly  woven  if  material  affords.  When 
one  wakes  in  the  morning  the  limbs  feel  a  little  stiff. 
Take  a  smart  run  and  the  blood  will  soon  begin  to 
circulate  quickly  and  the  body  be  warm. 

Officers  should  see  that  the  men  have  something  to 
eat  before  they  begin  work,  no  matter  how  early.  A 
cup  of  hot  coffee  and  a  biscuit  is  a  good  morning  meal 
before  the  regular  breakfast.  Bear  in  mind  that  the 
spirits  of  the  men  must  be  kept  up,  and  if  they  are  not 
well  fed  and  sheltered  the  privation  must  soon  tell  on 
their  disposition  and  temper,  and  the  result  can  only  be 
sickness  and  uselessness.  Associate  officers  with  the 
men  in  all  their  work  and  let  the  latter  see  the  inte  res 
taken  in  them. 


14 


PREPARATION  FOR  SERVICE. 


RATIONS  AND  COOKING. 

Too  much  attention  cannot  be  paid  to  the  rations. 
Get  them  as  varied  as  possible  and  see  that  no  oppor¬ 
tunity  is  lost  of  buying  vegetables.  Get  the  men  hot 
meals  at  every'  opportunity.  If  preserved  or  cooked 
rations  have  been  served  and  there  is  time  they  should 
be  warmed  or  made  into  soup  before  being  eaten.  This 
is  of  great  consequence  after  a  long  march  or  a  day  of 
hard  fighting. 

1.  SPIRITS.  Avoid  spirits  and  indeed  all  alcoholic 
liquors.  They  neither  give  strength  tp  the  body  nor 
sustain  it  against  disease.  They  are  not  protective 
against  cold  and  wet,  and  aggravate  rather  than  lessen 
the  effects  of  heat.  There  is  no  evidence  from  a  medi¬ 
cal  point  of  view  that  they  are  protective  against 
malaria  or  other  disease. 

2.  MESSING.  In  our  army  the  Buzzacott  Field 
Oven  is  issued  to  troops  and  furnishes  all  utensils 
necessary  for  a  large  mess.  This  has  not  yet,  however, 
stood  the  test  of  a  long  campaign,  and  experience  else¬ 
where  has  shown  the  best  system  to  be  that  of  small 
messes  of  six  or  eight.  Each  mess  then  has  a  camp 
kettle  and  implements,  which  the  members  of  the  mess 
take  turns  in  carrying. 

3.  FIELD  OVENS.  Upon  halting  in  camp  each 
mess  prepares  its  own  meal.  Field  ovens  may  be 
constructed  in  various  ways.  If  fuel  is  plenty  a  simple 
trench  in  which  the  fire  is  built  while  the  kettles  are 


PREPARATION  FOR  SERVICE. 


15 


suspended  above  from  a  bar  resting  upon  forked  stakes 
may  suffice.  If  stones  are  plenty,  two  parallel  lines 
may  be  laid  a  little  less  than  the  diameter  of  the  kettles 
apart,  in  the  same  direction  as  the  wind.  The  sides 
should  be  made  tight  with  earth  and  the  leeward  end 
built  up.  When  the  kettles  are  placed  upon  this  a 
good  draft  will  be  found  for  the  fire.  If  the  camp  is 
not  to  be  broken  at  once  a  number  of  these  should  be 
built  to  meet  wind  from  various  quarters.  If  stones 
are  not  to  be  found  the  same  form  may  be  secured  by 
digging  a  trench  of  the  like  width  and  filling  in  between 
the  kettles  with  turf.  The  draft  will  be  improved  by 
enlarging  the  windward  end  and  building  up  a  chimney 
at  the  rear. 

4.  FUEL.  In  the  absence  of  wood,  bones  and 
many  kinds  of  turf  and  dun  may  be  used  for  fuel. 
Near  the  cooking-place  a  small  filth  hole  should  always 
be  dug  for  all  cooking  refuse,  potato  peelings,  etc. 
The  old  one  should  be  filled  up,  well  rammed  down, 
and  a  new  one  dug,  every  two  or  three  days. 

5.  WATER.  As  impure  water  is  a  great  cause  of 
sickness  in  war,  the  soldier  should  be  taught  how  to 
recognize  impurity  and  how  to  use  the  simple  methods 
of  purification  with  alum,  charcoal  and  tea  boiling. 

6.  COOKING.  Too  much  attention  cannot  be  paid 
to  cooking.  The  different  kinds  of  cooking  to  be 
taught  are  stewing,  boiling,  and  making  soup,  making 
tea  and  coffee,  cooking  preserved  vegetables,  making 
cakes  of  flour,  and  oatmeal  porridge.  Dough  may  be 
mixed  on  a  piece  of  canvas,  on  a  rubber  blanket,  or  in 


16  PREPARATION  FOR  SERVICE. 


a  flour  barrel  or  flour  sack.  Empty  tomato  cans,  etc., 
can  be  used  as  vessels  in  which  to  draw  tea,  make 
coffee,  etc.  Men  should  always  arrange  to  carry  with 
them  a  small  supply  of  food.  In  almost  all  marches 
with  large  bodies  and  in  many  actions  there  are  long 
periods  of  inactivity  during  which  they  could  eat  food 
which  has  already  been  cooked,  and  the  effect  of  eating 
upon  the  spirits  at  such  a  time  is  wonderful. 

7.  COFFEE  AND  TEA.  Coffee  is  an  important 
article  of  diet  for  soldiers  because  it  is  not  only  invigo¬ 
rating  without  producing  subsequent  collapse,  but  the 
hot  infusion  is  almost  equally  serviceable  against  both 
heat  and  cold.  It  is  also  protective  against  malaria. 
Coffee  must  not  be  boiled.  In  order  to  get  the  full 
benefit,  after  the  first  lot  has  been  poured  off,  the 
grounds  should  be  saved.  The  next  time  coffee  is 
made  these  should  be  well  boiled  in  more  water  and 
then  poured  over  fresh  coffee  and  allowed  to  simmer. 

Tea,  like  coffee,  is  potent  against  both  heat  and  cold, 
is  useful  in  great  fatigue,  especially  in  hot  climates, 
and  has  a  great  purifying  effect  on  water. 

8.  RECIPES.  The  following  recipes  may  be  of 
use  : 

Soup.  The  great  error  commonly  committed  in  mak¬ 
ing  this  is  in  doing  it  too  rapidly,  which  renders  the 
meat  hard  and  tasteless.  Bone  and  scraps  of  meat 
should  be  collected  in  camp  after  every  meal  and  put 
down  to  simmer  for  the  next  day’s  soup.  Slice  onions 
and  put  them  into  fat  which  has  been  melted.  Stir 
well  and  in  five  minutes  add  the  meat  which  has  been 


PREPARATION  FOR  SERVICE. 


17 


cut  into  small  pieces,  and  keep  stirring  five  minutes 
longer ;  then  add  boiling  water  and  let  simmer  for  one 
hour  ;  mix  flour  with  cold  water,  very  smooth,  and 
then  add  it  to  the  soup  with  salt,  pepper,  sugar,  and 
any  other  seasoning  herb  obtainable,  and  let  the  whole 
simmer  for  half  an  hour  more. 

Irish  Stew.  Cut  meat  into  small  pieces  and  rub  with 
salt,  pepper  and  flour ;  place  in  boiler  with  some  fat. 
Brown  on  both  sides,  and  then  add  onions  whole,  and 
then  potatoes  ;  add  enough  water  to  cower  the  potatoes; 
stew  gently  for  two  hours,  keeping  fire  down  and  well 
covered  during  the  cooking.  Dumplings  may  be  added. 

Salt  Meat.  Before  cooking,  as  much  salt  as  possible 
must  be  extracted.  The  best  way  is  to  let  three  or  four 
pound  pieces  soak  eight  hours,  or  all  night  if  possible, 
and  then  wash  each  piece  with  the  hand.  It  is  then 
ready  for  cooking.  If  less  time  is  allowed,  cut  the 
pieces  smaller,  or  parboil  twenty  minutes  and  then 
throw  off  the  water  and  add  more.  Simmer  gently 
three  hours  and  serve.  Vegetables  or  dumplings  can 
be  boiled  with  it.  To  prepare  salt  meat  hurriedly, 
warm  it  slightly  on  both  sides,  then  rinse  it  well  in  a 
pan  of  water.  This  extracts  much  salt  and  leaves  the 
meat  in  a  fit  state  for  cooking. 

A  Hurried  Dinner.  Cut  your  rations  into  pieces  about 
the  size  of  a  silver  quarter,  but  three  or  four  times  as 
thick.  Skewer  them  on  a  piece  of  iron  wire  or  stick, 
and  a  few  minutes  will  suffice  to  cook  them  if  hung 
before  the  fire. 

In  cohclusion  1  would  impress  the  necessity  of  saving 
every  particle  of  salt  with  care.  There  is  nothing 


i8 


PREPARATION  FOR  SERVICE. 


which  is  of  greater  help  in  making  food  agreeable,  and 
without  it  vegetables  and  meat  are  often  unpalatable. 

HASTY  INTRENCH  MENTS. 

The  improvement  in  modern  firearms  has  rendered 
the  use  of  battle  or  hasty  intrenchments  probably  in¬ 
dispensable,  and  the  result  is  that  what  was  formerly 
the  exclusive  province  of  the  engineer  must  now  be 
possessed  by  all.  Arrangements  for  the  defense  of  a 
given  position  must  now  be  made  by  the  troops  who 
are  to  occupy  it,  and  an  army  in  the  presence  of  an 
enemy  will  always  fortify,  whether  in  camp,  in 
bivouac,  or  in  line,  Thus  it  is  that  all  should  be  thor¬ 
oughly  acquainted  with  the  regulation  types  of  cover, 
and  that  there  should  be  no  delay  at  critical  moments 
through  doubt  as  to  the  form  required.  It  may  be  that 
the  ground  in  action  will  afford  natural  cover  sufficient 
for  protection,  but  that  will  be  the  exception.  The 
simplest  and  speediest  form  of  shelter  is  that  for  skir¬ 
mishers  lying  down. 

i.  SHELTER  TRENCHES  — LYING  DOWN. 

In  making  this,  a  trench  six  feet  wide  is  made,  sloping 
from  four  inches  deep  at  the  end  toward  the  enemy  to 
ten  inches  at  the  rear.  The  soil  thus  excavated  is 
thrown  to  the  front  where  it  should  form  a  defense 
twelve  inches  high  and  thirty  inches  thick  at  the  top. 
This  should  stop  small  arm  projectiles,  except  when 
struck  in  the  most  favorable  spot  for  penetration.  The 
time  required  for  its  construction  by  one  man  with 


PREPARATION  FOR  SERVICE. 


19 


large  spade  and  pick  is  about  fifteen  minutes  ;  with 
small  spade  about  twenty  or  twenty-five  minutes. 

2.  KNEELING.  For  shelter  to  men  kneeling  or 
sitting  in  two  ranks,  the  trench  already  dug  is  deep¬ 
ened  to  twenty  inches  front  and  rear,  and  making  it 
but  five  feet  wide.  The  additional  material  will  make 
the  front  defense  one  foot  and  four  inches  high  and 
about  fifty-eight  inches  thick  on  top.  The  time  re¬ 
quired  is  about  thirty  minutes,  with  a  small  spade 
about  forty-five.  If  the  troops  are  in  single  rank  the 
trench  need  only  be  two  and  a  half  feet  wide. 

3.  STANDING.  Cover  standing  may  be  made  by 
deepening  the  kneeling  trench  to  four  feet,  leaving  a 
step  twenty  inches  and  three  feet  wide  next  the  front 
wall  of  the  trench  so  as  to  facilitate  the  leaving  of  the 
trenches  to  the  front  and  also  to  serve  as  a  platform 
for  men  firing  over  the  defense.  The  earth  defense 
formed  by  the  material  thrown  to  the  front  should  now 
be  two  feet  high  and  five  feet  thick,  and  care  should  be 
taken  to  make  the  inner  wall  of  the  front  defense  as 
vertical  as  possible.  This  defense,  working  with  the 
infantry  spade,  should  be  made  in  from  one  and  a  half 
to  three  hours,  and  this  the  form  of  shelter  which 
should  be  made  for  isolated  rifle  pits  allowing  two 
paces  of  trench  for  each  man. 

These  trenches  are  but  types — modifications  must  be 
made  according  to  circumstances.  When  stones  are 
encountered  in  digging  they  must  be  imbedded  in  the 
parapet  and  well  covered  with  earth,  as  they  splinter 
badly  when  struck  by  bullets  or  shrapnel  fragments^ 


20 


PREPARATION  FOR  SERVICE. 


Before  deciding  on  the  location  for  the  trench,  the  eye 
should  be  placed  at  a  distance  above  the  ground  equal 
to  the  height  of  the  completed  parapet  in  order  to  so 
locate  the  trench  that  every  part  of  the  ground  in  its 
front  may  be  swept  by  its  fire.  When  men  are  required 
to  remain  in  the  trenches  for  any  considerable  length 
of  time  they  should  be  provided  with  splinter-proofs. 
Planks,  old  doors,  etc.,  may  be  used,  and  in  the  absence 
of  these,  small  poles.  They  should  be  laid  with  one 
end  on  the  front  defense  and  the  other  resting  on  the 
earth  in  rear  of  the  trench,  and  then  covered  with  two 
or  three  inches  of  earth. 

4.  ABATTIS.  The  object  of  all  obstacles  is  defen¬ 
sive,  or  more  exactly,  the  holding  of  the  enemy  under 
fire,  while  checking  his  advance  and  breaking  up  of  his 
formation.  They  must  be  so  arranged  as  to  be  within 
the  range  of  the  defender’s  fire,  and  also  so  as  to  offer 
as  litttle  hindrance  as  possible  to  an  advance  from  the 
side  of  the  defense.  They  must  be  concealed  as  much 
as  possible  from  the  view  of  the  assaulting  party, 
and  must  be  as  difficult  as  possible  of  removal  under 
fire.  They  must  offer  no  shelter  to  the  enemy. 

Abattis  is  an  obstacle  made  of  the  interlaced  and 
pointed  branches  of  trees.  The  branches,  about  fifteen 
feet  long  and  laid  on  the  ground,  butts  to  the  rear,  and 
all  large  branches  pointed  and  interlaced.  The  branches 
are  secured  to  the  ground  by  forks,  wire  or  by  logs, 
laid  over  the  butts.  Abattis  should  be  five  feet  high, 
and  if  more  than  one  row  is  used,  the  branches  of  one 
”ow  should  overlap  the  butts  of  the  next  one  in  front. 


PREPARATION  FOR  SERVICE. 


21 


It  is  most  easily  constructed,  when  conditions  favor,  by 
felling  trees  toward  the  enemy  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
leave  the  failen  part  still  attached  to  the  stump  ;  the 
branches  are  then  pointed. 

5.  WIRE  ENTANGLEMENTS.  These  are  used 
for  the  same  purposes  as  abattis,  and  are  often  used  in 
connection  with  it  to  interlace  branches.  Wire  en¬ 
tanglements  proper  are  formed  by  driving  eighteen  inch 
stakes  into  the  ground  in  rows  six  feet  apart,  the  stakes 
of  each  succeeding  row  opposite  the  intervals  of  the 
row  in  front.  The  heads  of  the  stakes  are  connected 
with  stout  wire  wound  around  them.  This  is  made 
more  effective  if  the  ground  is  left  uncleared  of  brush. 
High  wire  entanglements  are  made  in  the  same  way, 
except  that  the  stakes  should  be  at  least  four  feet  high, 
and  the  head  of  each  stake  is  connected  with  the  foot 
of  the  stake  diagonally  opposite. 

6.  SHELTER.  Shelter  should  always  be  used  by 
the  defense  if  they  have  opportunity  to  make  choice  of 

’■ground.  Every  effort  should  be  made  to  strengthen 
the  position  before  an  assault  can  be  made.  The  use 
of  head  logs  and  loopholes  is  not  to  be  encouraged  too 
much,  however,  if  it  is  desired  to  have  the  men  ready 
to  make  a  vigorous  and  prompt  counter-offensive 
movement. 


22 


PREPARATION  FOR  SERVICE. 


FIRST  AID  TO  INJURED. 

On  all  outpost  and  detached  duties,  hours,  if  not 
days,  may  elapse  before  the  services  of  a  doctor  can  be 
procured.  Thus  every  man  should  know  how  to  care 
for  himself  or  a  comrade  in  cases  of  simple  injuries. 

1.  BLEEDING  FROM  WOUNDS.  This  maybe 
from  a  vein  or  an  arterv.  From  a  vein  it  is  seldom  of 
much  consequence  and  requires  merely  application  of 
cold  water  and  slight  pressure  of  a  bandage  over  the 
wound,  or  between  it  and  the  extremity  of  the  wounded 
limb.  The  limb  should  be  raised  higher  than  the 
body.  If  unconscious  from  loss  of  blood,  lay  on  the 
back  with  head  level  with  the  body,  open  clothes  round 
the  neck,  and  give  a  little  stimulant.  Bleeding  from  a 
vein  may  be  known  from  the  dark  color  of  the  blood. 

2.  BLEEDING  FROM  AN  ARTERY.  This  may 
be  known  by  the  bright  red  color  of  the  blood  and  by 
its  spurting  out  in  jets  corresponding  with  the  beats  of 
the  pulse.  Unless  stopped  at  once  the  man  will  d:  ' 
To  do  this  it  is  only  necessary  to  compress  the  injured 
artery  against  the  bone,  between  the  wound  and  the 
body.  Having  placed  the  man  as  above,  feel  for  the 
pulsating  artery  on  the  inside  of  the  limb  above  the 
wound  and  apply  a  tourniquet,  made  by  tying  the 
handkerchief  round  the  limb  with  a  round  stone  or 
object  over  the  artery,  and  twisted  tight  by  means  of  a 
stick  passed  through  the  slack.  This  must  be  applied 
just  above  where  the  pressure  of  the  fingers  is  found  to 
control  the  bleeding. 


PREPARATION  FOR  SERVICE. 


23 


3.  LOCATION  OF  ARTERIES.  The  inside  seam 
of  the  coat  follows  the  general  course  of  the  arteries  in 
the  arm.  In  the  leg  the  artery  passes  down  inside  of 
the  thigh,  winding  round  underneath  to  the  hollow  be¬ 
hind  the  knee.  With  wounds  below  the  elbow  or 
knee,  apply  pressure  above  those  joints,  If  you  cannot 
find  the  artery  fill  up  the  wound  with  some  cotton  or 
linen  and  bandage  as  tightly  as  you  possibly  can  di¬ 
rectly  over  the  wound. 

4.  SABRE  WOUNDS.  The  edges  of  sabre 
wounds  should  be  brought  together  and  sewn  or  well 
secured  with  sticking  plaster. 

5.  SORE  FEET.  Sore  feet  result  from  marching. 
They  should  be  bathed  in  tepid  water,  having  a  few 
lumps  of  alum  dissolved  in  it ;  if  there  are  blisters  they 
should  be  pricked  but  the  skin  must  not  be  torn  off. 
Previous  to  beginning  the  next  day’s  march  the  tender 
places  should  have  soft  soap  applied  to  them,  or  any 

^ort  of  grease,  not  salt.  Whiskey  or  rum  and  water 
applied  to  the  feet  is  the  best  preventive  against 
blister. 

6.  POISONOUS  SNAKE-BITES.  A  ligature  of 
cord  should  be  at  once  placed  round  the  limb,  between 
the  bite  and  the  body  and  kept,  if  possible,  until  the 
arrival  of  a  surgeon.  The  flesh  around  the  bite  should 
be  at  once  cut  out  with  a  knife,  or  sucked  and  bathed 
in  warm  water,  and  have  ammonia  applied  freely.^ 
Stimulants  should  be  freely  given.. 


24 


PREPARATION  FOR  SERVICE. 


7.  BITES  FROM  CENTIPEDES,  SCORPIONS, 
ETC.,  should  be  treated  externally  with  ammonia  and 
spirits  used  internally  and  externally. 

8.  SUNSTROKES.  Raise  the  head,  open  the  coat 
and  everything  bearing  on  the  throat  and  chest ;  if 
plenty  of  water  is  to  be  had  keep  up  a  stream  of  it  on 
the  head  and  upper  part  of  the  chest  until  consciousness 
is  restored. 

In  getting  at  a  wound  do  not  stop  to  undress  the 
patient  but  slit  the  seams  of  the  clothes  if  on  the  limbs. 
Remember  in  any  event  that  the  wounded  part  is  to  be 
undressed  last  and  dressed  first. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


3  0112  061724479 


^7  V^MAo 


